Eric Lauer started strong.
The bullpen’s finish was ugly.
Really. Ugly.
By the time the final seven runs crossed the plate in a the Padres’ 9-0 laugher to the Diamondbacks on Friday night, a valiant effort from Lauer was a distant memory.
Jump-starting his fight for a rotation spot next spring, Lauer tied a career-high nine strikeouts over six innings of two-run bal. The 24-year-old left-hander also tied a career-high with four walks, one more than the Padres’ bullpen issued in a disastrous eighth inning that saw the Diamondbacks send 12 batters to the plate.